ISSN: 1899-0967
Polish Journal of Radiology
Established by prof. Zygmunt Grudziński in 1926 Sun
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1/2022
vol. 87
 
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Chest radiology
abstract:
Review paper

Diagnostic performance of chest computed tomography for COVID-19 in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical and computed tomography features in 987 patients

Mahitab Ghoneim
1
,
Riham Eid
1
,
Nashwa Hamdy
1
,
Doaa Shokry
1
,
Mohammed A. Salem
1
,
Ahmed El-morsy
1
,
Ali H. Elmokadem
1

1.
Mansoura University, Egypt
Pol J Radiol 2022; 87: e126-e140
Online publish date: 2022/03/02
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Purpose
The outbreak of a new coronavirus is still spreading worldwide, affecting children and adults. However, COVID-19 in children shows distinctive characteristics in clinical and radiological presentation. We aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of chest CT and clarify the clinicoradiological CT features of COVID-19 among children with COVID-19.

Material and methods
Adhering to PRISMA-DTA guidelines, we searched databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) to identify relevant articles. The search keywords were: “Chest CT” AND “COVID-19” OR “coronavirus” OR “SARS-COV-2” AND “Children” OR “Pediatric”. Published reports providing clinical and imaging findings of paediatric COVID-19 were included.

Results
Twenty-eight studies were included, with 987 patients. Most of the patients were symptomatic (76.9%; 95% CI: 69.2-84.7%), with fever being the most frequent manifestation (64%; 95% CI: 58.0-71.2%). Only 2.3% of the cases were critical, and mortality was reported in one case. The proportion of COVID-19 detected by chest CT among children is relatively high (658/987), with ground-glass opacity (GGO) being the most prevalent feature (52.5%; 95% CI: 40.5-64.7%). The pooled sensitivity of chest CT in all patients was 67%; however, it was different between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (71% and 33%, respectively). The pooled specificity was (67%), which was calculated after considering the symptomatic PCR-positive patients as the gold standard.

Conclusions
Chest CT showed moderate pooled sensitivity and specificity among symptomatic children with COVID-19 and low sensitivity among asymptomatic children. This means that CT is not to be used as a screening tool or for confirmation of the diagnosis in children and should be reserved for specific clinical situations.

keywords:

COVID-19, coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, chest CT, children, diagnostic performance




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